Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
James Gunn
DC TV Shows James Gunn is officially in the DCU after this sneaky Peacemaker season 2 cameo
Things With Feathers
Drama Movies Benedict Cumberbatch is tormented by a giant crow in The Thing with Feathers – see the exclusive first poster
Nick and Judy in Marsh Market in Zootopia 2
Animated Movies Zootropolis 2 creators brought almost 200 characters to the screen for the sequel and drew inspiration from Disney's "incredible legacy," including Jungle Book and Robin Hood
Five Nights At Freddy's
Horror Movies The First Omen director might have just found her eagerly anticipated next project, and it's an A24 horror movie eyeing up Five Nights at Freddy's, Fear the Walking Dead, and Weapons stars
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong Donkey Kong 64 composer who went uncredited in the Super Mario Bros Movie was "so pissed" that he still hasn't watched the film, even if he has "seen that bit" with the DK Rap
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill and the rest of the gang in the superhero movie, Guardians of the Galaxy.
Marvel Movies James Gunn says he was told to swap the iconic Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack for "Britney Spears like '90s songs"
It: Welcome to Derry episode 5
Horror Shows It: Welcome to Derry Easter eggs and cameos: All the Stephen King and wider franchise references you might have missed
Feathers McGraw in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Animated Movies Wallace and Gromit creator teases Feathers McGraw prequel: "Watch this space"
Miguel Ferrer as Albert Rosenfield, Chrystabell as Tammy Preston, and David Lynch as Gordon Cole in episode 12 of Twin Peaks: The Return.
Mystery Movies "It's the gift that just keeps giving." Chrystabell remembers her collaboration with Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive director David Lynch
Reed and Sue in the Fantastic Four movie
Marvel Movies Marvel reveals The Fantastic Four: First Steps deleted scenes that you'll soon be able to watch at home, including Thanksgiving and birthday moments
Next James Bond
Action Movies Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
Tron: Ares
Sci-Fi Movies Tron: Ares producers say Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross "love Disney", so it was a no brainer that they collaborate with the House of Mouse on the sci-fi sequel
John Boyega as Finn in Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Sci-Fi Movies Star Wars and One Battle After Another stars join "anime-inspired" sci-fi movie about a woman injected with superpowered slime
The Penguin finale
DC Movies The Batman 2 star Colin Farrell says the script for Matt Reeves' sequel is "extraordinary", but confirms the Penguin only has a small role: "I haven't got much to do on it"
Steven Spielberg
Sci-Fi Movies Steven Spielberg's new UFO movie will be scored by legendary composer John Williams, marking their 30th collaboration
Trending
  • Black Friday streaming deals
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

8 Great Music Star Cameos

Features
By James White published 23 October 2009

Jarvis Cocker's Fantastic Mr Fox job and more…

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

The Muso: Jarvis Cocker

Cocker plays a character called Petey, who looks suspiciously like his real-life counterpart.

While his song for the film is still in place, his narration was removed because the studio was worried US audiences wouldn't be able to penetrate his Sheffield accent.

Appropriate Lyric: "Mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits, We'd like to go to town but we can't risk it, oh, Cos they just want to keep us out. You could end up with a smack in the mouth, Just for standing out, Oh really."

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

The Muso: Ian Brown

The former Stone Roses singer has a small, blink-and-you'll miss it role in the third Potter thanks to a friendship with director Alfonso Cuaron.

He was shoved on to the Leaky Cauldron set, and got to work a little magic by being a man reading a book and stirring his tea without touching anything.

Appropriate Lyric: "I feel fantastic, you make me feel majestic, you're sweet fantastic, your love is hypnotizing, your love, is mesmerizing."

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

The Muso: David Bowie

A habitual cameo-nabber (and occasional lead, back in the day), Bowie turned up in David Lynch's cinematic prequel to the TV show and only served to add to the weirdness.

He's FBI Agent Phillip Jeffries, described as "long lost" mostly because he stepped off the Philadelphia field office's elevator one day and turned up in Buenos Aires seconds later.

Appropriate Lyric: "Once a time, they nearly might have been, Bones and Oogie on a silver screen, No one knew what they could do, Except for me and you, They slip away, They slip away."

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
This Year's Love (1999)

This Year's Love (1999)

The Muso: David Gray

The fun but unremarkable rom com has largely drifted under the waters of time in 10 short years, but Gray, who hoped writing the music for the movie and appearing in a cameo as a pub band member would help boost his career, certainly saw the benefit.

He's now a big-selling artist with plenty of success under his belt.

Appropriate Lyric: "This year's love had better last, Heaven knows it's high time, And I've been waiting on my own too long, But when you hold me like you do, It feels so right, I start to forget, How my heart gets torn…"

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

The Muso: Jack White

White, clearly having the time of his life, turns up giving a slightly mad, but perfectly pitched version of Elvis.

The King in Dewey's life story is a hyperkinetic smooth charmer with a coif to worship.

Appropriate Lyric:
"Well if they catch me around, You're playing rock the boat, I'm gonna catch hell, And if you're throwing your voice, In bed singing a note, I'm gonna catch hell, I know it"

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
The Wedding Singer (1998)

The Wedding Singer (1998)

The Muso: Billy Idol

Somehow, it's perfectly appropriate that the man behind White Wedding should show up in the film.

Idol pops up as himself, traveling on a plane that also happens to be carrying Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's characters. He helps the pair reunite, not only introducing Sandler's song over the intercom, but stopping Barrymore's fiance from interfering. "Chicken or fish?"

Appropriate Lyric: "But oh if you're lonely, And so blue, It's here inside saying, Man for woman, Love's unchained ah yeah, Man for woman, It's insane well, That's right, I gotcha."

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
The Simpsons Movie (2007)

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

The Muso(s): Green Day

The band provide one of the few highlights in the overstuffed and patchy pic, playing on a floating stage to entertain Springfield's masses.

When they put down their instruments and start trying to plug enviromental issues, the crowd throws litter and causes the stage to dissolve, up-end and sink, Titanic-style. "Gentlemen, it's been an honour playing with you tonight…"

Appropriate Lyric: "Nice guys finish last, You're running out of gas. Your sympathy will get you left behind, Sometimes you're at your best, when you look the worst, Do you feel washed up, like piss going down the drain."

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Back To The Future (1985)

Back To The Future (1985)

The Muso: Huey Lewis

BTTF is practically a Huey informercial, since he and The News contribute two songs to the film's soundtrack (come on, who didn't dance to 'The Power Of Love'?) and appears in a small cameo as one of the judges at the Battle Of The Bands.

He's the one who says Marty McFly's Pinheads are "too loud." He plays a buttoned down teacher type well.

Appropriate Lyric: "Went uptown to see my cousin, Plays guitar, sounds like a chainsaw buzzing', In the crowd, I see his mom and dad, I said "Hey, hey Uncle, man your son is bad", But sometimes, sometimes bad is bad, Cool is a rule, but, sometimes, bad is bad."

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
James White
Freelance Journalist

James White is a freelance journalist who has been covering film and TV for over two decades. In that time, James has written for a wide variety of publications including Total Film and SFX. He has also worked for BAFTA and on ODEON's in-cinema magazine. 

Read more
James Gunn
James Gunn is officially in the DCU after this sneaky Peacemaker season 2 cameo
 
 
Things With Feathers
Benedict Cumberbatch is tormented by a giant crow in The Thing with Feathers – see the exclusive first poster
 
 
Nick and Judy in Marsh Market in Zootopia 2
Zootropolis 2 creators brought almost 200 characters to the screen for the sequel and drew inspiration from Disney's "incredible legacy," including Jungle Book and Robin Hood
 
 
Five Nights At Freddy's
The First Omen director might have just found her eagerly anticipated next project, and it's an A24 horror movie eyeing up Five Nights at Freddy's, Fear the Walking Dead, and Weapons stars
 
 
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64 composer who went uncredited in the Super Mario Bros Movie was "so pissed" that he still hasn't watched the film, even if he has "seen that bit" with the DK Rap
 
 
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill and the rest of the gang in the superhero movie, Guardians of the Galaxy.
James Gunn says he was told to swap the iconic Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack for "Britney Spears like '90s songs"
 
 
Latest in Movies
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked: For Good
Wicked: For Good director kept the final shot secret from studio executives so it couldn't be spoiled
 
 
Predator: Badlands
Predator: Badlands VFX team reveal final fight was originally nowhere near as epic
 
 
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Despite having a script, James Cameron says his upcoming World War II movie has been put on the backburner: "I have 10 other projects"
 
 
Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, sitting in the corner of a boxing ring
Michael B Jordan says Creed 4 is "eventually, definitely" happening: "I still might be able to get a couple of really good swings at the franchise"
 
 
The Strangers standing in a line confronting their captives
The first Strangers: Chapter 3 trailer is here, reminding us that they actually did make three of these films
 
 
Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked: For Good
James Cameron "almost" directed Wicked 15 years ago, but he "couldn't find the song"
 
 
Latest in Features
Picard and Ryker in Star Trek Next Generation looking at the GamesRadar+ Quiz icon
How well do you know Star Trek?
 
 
A spooky necromancer's city with a green sky in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
As Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era soars, Hooded Horse boss Tim Bender says passion-publishing trumps chasing money: "Why would anyone want to work with you if not for total lack of choice?"
 
 
Jotun in Troll 2
Troll 2 director on the kaiju-sized sequel to Netflix's most-watched non-English language movie: "We wanted the troll to feel very different to the first movie"
 
 
Robert rides the elevator to work in Dispatch with his dog Beef, looking out of place surrounded by superheroes
How Dispatch helped me to see my father's death in a new light
 
 
The Big Preview art of Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era showing a vampire holding a glowing skull
The Big Preview for Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era – Exclusive dev access and hands-on with the strategy RPG revival
 
 
Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in Stranger Things season 5
Stranger Things season 5 cave explained: what is it, how does it connect to the Upside Down, and why is Vecna scared of it?
 
 
  1. Escape from Tarkov review
    1
    Escape from Tarkov review: "An extraction shooter that will make you truly miserable if you let it, but can offer dizzying highs you won't find elsewhere"
  2. 2
    Fans think this is the best strategy board game ever made, and I have to admit that they've got a point
  3. 3
    Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
  4. 4
    This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving
  5. 5
    Kirby Air Riders review: "This racer is also equal parts fighting game, minigame collection, and roguelike – and I'm shocked at how well that works"
  1. Josh O'Connor and Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
    1
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  2. 2
    Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
  3. 3
    The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
  4. 4
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  5. 5
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  1. Noah Schnapp as Will Byers and Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in Stranger Things season 5
    1
    Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
  2. 2
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  3. 3
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  4. 4
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  5. 5
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...